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October 2005
Posts: 4072
Location: Utah | It seems like the fret height on both our new guitars, my daughter's Elite T and my Ibanez SZ-520 electric, are higher than on my older guitars. I don't have two of my original electrics from the 70's, but my recollection of those is that the frets were quite low, especially the Ibanez Strat copy. I still have a very good Alvarez 12 string and a cheap yamaha 6 string that seem to have lower frets as well.
Why go to higher frets? It seems that the strings bend more, causing variable pitch sharpening depending on how hard one presses the string. Plus, the string can wander back and forth along the fret a bit if finger pressure isn't straight down.
I'm thinking about having some frets sanded... |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Fretwire is available in many sizes. I like low frets for a fast neck and fat frets for barre/fingerstyle playing. The tall frets do not require the player to push the string down to the fretboard. Like you say, if you do press it down, intonation does change because of increased string tension. To me it is a matter of personal preference and buyers should not overlook fret size when guitar shopping. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | like hem lines they go up and down...... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | At least on the LX models we summized that the smoover straighter bolt on necks required less levelling so they had less meat removed. |
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October 2005
Posts: 803
Location: Avondale, AZ | Why go to higher frets? Hey Fly, it is either because the manufacture is trying to make them last longer or you are getting older. |
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March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Interesting, this may be the reason I didn't like the feel of the newer O's I have tried at stores. That, and they seem set up very high. I have a 1974 Les Paul with low frets as well. Just feels better to me. Probably a sign of getting old. But I still like the shorter skirts.
Steve |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Yes, I think fret size seems to change with taste in playing style. I preferred low frets and light action when I was younger (and a much less capable player), but now I like higher frets and heavier strings. I very much like the feel of the new LXs at stores.
Much is made about scalloped fretboards....wouldn't higher frets have some of the same effect???? Much cheaper and easier to do.
Roger |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Old Applesause, You are right, higher frets are the first step down the scalloped road. Same effect though certainly not as much and they really don't make you change your playing style like a scalloped board would do. Although this is not the reason for higher frets, the factory isn't going for this. And the other point is also true, manufacturing methods are better so less leveling is required so the frets stay closer to their original height. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Also, if you do a lot of bending the higher frets give you more string to grip. I recall the frets being pretty low in the late 70's when I first picked up a guitar.
I'm sure the kids (now) buying guitars, in 30 years will say, damn, you just can't get a grip on these on these strings, the frets are so low ... |
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March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | It probably is something that changes with time. The orginal gibson "Custom was also sometimes called the 'fretless wonder', due to the fret wire which was dressed flat and low." I am assuming that low also has its advantages as well. It feels more comfortable to me and it is easy to slide around, but I am not that good of an electric player that I could really say if this has advantages, or if it is just a relic of the past. If it's a relic, its a cool relic.
Steve |
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Has fret height increased?
